Midas Muffler ripoff Charged 268.00 to replace alternator-claimed good battery was bad battery also Clinton Twp Michigan

The consumer stated she brought a 1994 Oldsmobile to Midas for an alternator change. If the Olds was a 94 Cutlass Supreme, she got a great deal from Midas. I own a 94 Olds Cutlass Supreme, a great car but a headache to change the alternator. In this car the alternator is buried within the engine, one of a couple of design flaws with this otherwise great motor (another being the side mounted battery which is hidden under the winshield wash reservoir). It can take way more than 1 hour to remove and replace the alternator. So many engine parts have to be removed just to get to the alternator. So if the car was a 94 Olds Cutlass Supreme or one with a similar engine design, Midas gave the consumer a good deal.

One should always purchase a new or factory rebuilt alternator (especially in a 94 Olds Cutlass Supreme, because of the labor charges accrued just to find the alternator). Midas served the customer well by putting in a factory rebuilt alternator.

As far as the hourly wages, $69/hr is a freaking bargain in my area (Boston) for a certified auto mechanic. If Midas charges this and only pays the actual mechanic $7.75/hr, well that IS outrageous. I understand the economic hardships in that area. Sometimes, because of commitments, people can't move. Workers need to be paid a fair wage. This is a real problem in many parts of our country. I hope these good people can find a solution by starting another endeavor, moving to a more prosperous area or finding a better paying job. It is very, very difficult but it can be done. There are still countless opportunities in America for anyone willing to take advantage of them, no matter how hard the initial hardship.

At the Clinton Township Midas, located on Garfield Road, we have a very fine record of assisting Customers. Our Customer Satisfaction Rating is over 99%.

In this situation, I personally spoke with the Customer. Respectively, the story that he tells is quite different than what actually occurred. The charges were only for the Alternator.

The Customer indicated to me that he had worked on the battery prior to arriving at our store and failed to communicate the actions he had taken. There is no record that we ever advised the Customer to replace the battery.

The Customer felt that he could have replaced the alterator in a very short period of time. This facility uses both Mitchell and AllData to determine the normal time required to diagnose a vehicle and the normal time required to replace all components required to be serviced. The very same method that most repair facilities use and the method that is accepted by the State of Michigan.

I am sorry that this individual feels that he was not properly treated. I did offer my apology. However, as you can tell, the Customer believes that he is right and would not accept any explaination.

You're trying to tell us that Midas is billing $69. an hour-in an area where there is no work and people are making no money but can pay that kind of labor price-the same rate as a place like here in NJ-some of the highest cost of living where legitmate "A" techs make $20-25 an hour and your techs out there can only make $8?

There are some real issues out there then. I haven't worked for single digits in over 20 years here. The owner of that Midas must own the state with all the money he's raking in.

I am a thorn in the side of any big company if they are wrong to the little guy, just so you know before you attack my comments!

I am like anyone else, I hate paying from $65.00 to $100.00 an hour for labor! Unfortunately with all the new gadgets we all need in our cars, it takes a pretty smart shade tree mechanic or a highly trained tech to fix our cars.

Some things I can fix myself other things I leave to the garage? I am willing to pay the extra money because if they break a bolt in a hard to reach place they gotta fix it, if I break same bolt, I have just made my 1 hour project into a several hours or days and even possibility of having car towed to garage, to fix my screw up!

I had 1980 Datsun 280zx had struts fixed in midas Arizona, a year or two later rear strut leaked, in Mass at military training, took it to Midas dreading the run around, no problem original not stocked better model available I don't even think they charged me labor, since it was defect. Me happy as a clam! Never had problem again!

Next car some yrs later 1994 Chev astro van, very worried about cost of replacing muffler and exhaust pipe, took it to Midas in Glen Burnie, MD, figured I would read Washington Post, never made it through first story time in the door to out the door MAX 20 mins, I asked if the work had really been done, yeap they said! Went home still questioning if they really did work had wife come out and we both physically looked under car, new muffler and tail pipe in place! That has to be a record 20 ins!

next auto 1991 Mercedes Benz 500 SL roadster! Inspection station stated brakes nearing end of life, so off to Midas, estimate given(luckily had a bit of extra money) parts like 168.00 or something labor $394.00 I was ok paying that since MB has special sensors etc that I had no idea about.

Midas has never been bad to me, are aall the franchises the same probably not! Don't thow out the baby cause the bath water is dirty or one rotten apple doesn't spoil the whole barrel, you get what I'm aiming at!

Just an update, 2001 chev blazer brakes totally shot, figured I just moved from Maryland to VA and had to attend business back in MD left blazer at National tire Battery NTB, got a call well front bearings bad (whole assembly $390 ea) rotors, pads labor blah blah $2000.00 Plus, needless to say told them put the wheels on that sucker and I would get it!

Left there went to PEP Boys, bought front rotors for about $16.99 and rear rotors for $22.99 ea and pads for total of $156.00+/-, I will never spend the $10 to $50 ea to have rotors turned again, priced the bearings $228.00 at advance auto parts!

Ain't like the old days when you used to pay $3.00 for oil filter, $.50 for qt of oil. many garages require ASE certified mech and if the Mech has not worked for a dealer or company that pays for training these guys pay out of pocket does anyone quest why a doctor gets $120 for a 10 or 15 min look at you after making you wait for 15 to 45 min in waiting room?? No cause the insurance pays for it!

If you don't want to pay high labor prices learn to fix it yourself, like I am going to have to do with MB since I'm sure MB dealers charge probably $120 per hour not the $100 per hour her in Northern VA, I guess they figure if you live here you must have the money to pay extra!

I would use Midas again if i needed quick fix for anything!

im sorry but if you are ase certified and only making 8.00 per hour you need to learn how to negoitate. i make well over 25 per hour and am hyundai master, diamler chrysler master and ase master certified

Steve,
You still don't get it. The cost of living has a lot to do with the wages companies pay. The cost of living is a lot more in Bradenton Fl than here in lower Michigan. You can't tell me different. I have friends that live in your area. And it is totally different down there than it is up here. Why didn't you call our local Midas here in Niles? Couldn't find the number? Or did they tell you that you had to apply in person? You can not change my mind about Midas. I know what they are all about. Same goes to other shops.

My original point was to make sure who is working on your car. Everyone should have their own mechanic that they trust. And not bounce around to different shops. There are only a couple of shops in Niles that I would trust to work on my car, if it ever came down to it. That means that I know that they treat their customers with respect and their prices are fair for the job that they do. By the way drugs are a problem everywhere not just Fl. So that is not an excuse that sits with me very well.

Steve,
You still don't get it. The cost of living has a lot to do with the wages companies pay. The cost of living is a lot more in Bradenton Fl than here in lower Michigan. You can't tell me different. I have friends that live in your area. And it is totally different down there than it is up here. Why didn't you call our local Midas here in Niles? Couldn't find the number? Or did they tell you that you had to apply in person? You can not change my mind about Midas. I know what they are all about. Same goes to other shops.

My original point was to make sure who is working on your car. Everyone should have their own mechanic that they trust. And not bounce around to different shops. There are only a couple of shops in Niles that I would trust to work on my car, if it ever came down to it. That means that I know that they treat their customers with respect and their prices are fair for the job that they do. By the way drugs are a problem everywhere not just Fl. So that is not an excuse that sits with me very well.

Steve,
You still don't get it. The cost of living has a lot to do with the wages companies pay. The cost of living is a lot more in Bradenton Fl than here in lower Michigan. You can't tell me different. I have friends that live in your area. And it is totally different down there than it is up here. Why didn't you call our local Midas here in Niles? Couldn't find the number? Or did they tell you that you had to apply in person? You can not change my mind about Midas. I know what they are all about. Same goes to other shops.

My original point was to make sure who is working on your car. Everyone should have their own mechanic that they trust. And not bounce around to different shops. There are only a couple of shops in Niles that I would trust to work on my car, if it ever came down to it. That means that I know that they treat their customers with respect and their prices are fair for the job that they do. By the way drugs are a problem everywhere not just Fl. So that is not an excuse that sits with me very well.

Steve,
You still don't get it. The cost of living has a lot to do with the wages companies pay. The cost of living is a lot more in Bradenton Fl than here in lower Michigan. You can't tell me different. I have friends that live in your area. And it is totally different down there than it is up here. Why didn't you call our local Midas here in Niles? Couldn't find the number? Or did they tell you that you had to apply in person? You can not change my mind about Midas. I know what they are all about. Same goes to other shops.

My original point was to make sure who is working on your car. Everyone should have their own mechanic that they trust. And not bounce around to different shops. There are only a couple of shops in Niles that I would trust to work on my car, if it ever came down to it. That means that I know that they treat their customers with respect and their prices are fair for the job that they do. By the way drugs are a problem everywhere not just Fl. So that is not an excuse that sits with me very well.

Tom,

If you have been a mechanic for that many years and have never earned over $10 an hour, there is something seriously wrong. It seems like someone with that much experience could open his own shop. Whay would any ASE certified mechanic accept $10/hr?

WA is a union state and I have a good friend that lives there. The wages, on average are much higher than FL. He lives in Port Orchard and he won't get out of bed for less than $18/hr. He works seasonal construction and is also a welder. He makes $18+ in construction and over $25 welding. I have seen his paychecks.

I think maybe you should seek some union representation for some better wages and benefits, or open your own shop.

Terri,

The apprentice/shop helpers or trainees here in Bradenton start at $10.50/hr. if they have some sort of experience. No experience at all starts at $9/hour. The ASE Mechanics work on a percentage of the total ticket, parts and labor. He wanted to hire me before discussing the specific details but told me his mechanics consistently earn over $20/hr average.

They cannot keep people because of the drug testing policy.

I don't know what the wages are in Mich. or Fla. but, here in Bremerton they are $10.00 an hr for ASE certified mechanics. I have been certified since I started working as a Mechanic after completing my apprenticeship in 1959. I am a journeyman mechanic. I have never gotten wages higher $10.00 an hr. However, technicians at Auto Dealers do make more money.

In regard to Midas, the people working at one of our local Midas shops have been sued by customers, quite often for shoddy work. The local paper has even run an article about their shoddy work practices.

Steve, I am waiting to hear what you found out when you called Midas. Did you find out that I was correct? That they actually have people working for $8.00 an hour. Or that they most likely have only one Certified Mechanic and everyone else that works there is not a certified mechanic. Which means that the what you call "the mechanic helper" is actually doing the job and the Certified Mechanic is to check the work before it leaves the shop. They do it this way to keep their overhead down and make more money. They will get you certified, that is if you can stand to work for them for approx. 8 weeks. However they make it difficult to work for them, bouncing you from store to store and working 6 days a week and 10 hour days. So Steve what were you offered?

Terri,

So you just assume that the wage is the same as it was 6 years ago? And you said your husband was a mechanic. If you are not certified, you are NOT a mechanic. That was my point.

Mechanics are those with formal background, training, and certifications. Like I said, NO MECHANIC would work for only $8.00 an hour. I dont care how small your town is.

Furthermore, I know exactly what averages are. I also know that the averages where you live are higher than the averages where I live, and no mechanic here works for only $8.00 an hour. That is ridiculous.

Your husband was hired 6 years ago for $7.75 an hour. He was obviously hired as a helper, not a mechanic, as he had no certifications or verifiable experience.

I'll call that location tomorrow and inquire about getting a job. I'll post what I am offered here.

Your figures are an average. That means some people get paid more and some people get paid less. And you don't know the first thing about my area. I do not live in the big cities suburbs. I live in a little town with not much to offer. My statements are not lies. I have no reason to lie. I am just stating the truth as I have lived it. And my fiance worked for Midas 6 years ago. And even today you can pickup the local paper and I would place a wager that Midas has an ad in the paper for a mechanic no certification necessary. The ad is in the paper at least once a month. I know it was in there all last week. They treat their employees like dog do-do. And have an extremly high turnover rate.

Terri,

Well, according to the USDOL site, Michigan average wage for mechanics is above the national average per hour, and also above the Florida average per hour.

Therefore, your claim that there are no jobs and mechanics are lucky to make only $8 an hour are frivolous. And the unemployment rate is not as low as most other places in the country.

Any qualified mechanic that works for only $8 an hour is a moron regardless of where he/she lives.
This means that your husband has no verifiable experience at all and was hired as a helper, not a mechanic, or you just made that up.

How many years ago was your husband hired at only $7.75 as a mechanic?

National average:
National estimates for this occupation: Top
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) Mean hourly
wage Mean annual
wage (2) Wage RSE (3)
654,800 0.7 % $16.90 $35,140 0.4 %

Michigan:
49-3023 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics 22,600 $18.20 $18.92 $39,350 2.1 %

Florida:
49-3023 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics 40,710 $15.76 $16.60 $34,520 1.3 %

This should clear up the confusion and lies.

It is impossible to move from this state for me. I can't move unless I want to take my son's biological father to court so I can take him out of state. Also, my son has physically diasabled and all of his Doctors are here in Michigan. I get tired of telling new Doctors what my son has. And it is difficult to move unless you have money and leave a job that I have had for over 18 years.

I did it.

He is a "Shadetree Mechanic". You know someone that you have known for a long time as a friend that happens to work on cars. That way he can give his customers and our neighbors a better deal when their cars break down. And yes he works on our next door neighbors cars. They would rather bring it to us than take it to the local mechanic shop because they have always been overpriced and overcharged and they still don't get the job done properly.

My fiance has worked on cars since he was 9 years old. And I have done the same. And now my 12 year old son is doing his own electrical work on his own car. He also helps out when working on our customers cars. Because I belive that if you are going to drive it you better know how to work on it. That way you are not always trying to figure out how are you going to pay the mechanic. Michigan is ranked 49th in the country for economic growth. We have lost 10's of thousands of jobs. Like I said before there are no jobs in Michigan. And people are doing what ever they can to get by.

There's no money in the town, so he opens another shop. He made next to nothing as an employee, so he opens a shop with what money?

Am I missing something?

Pay in MI really sucks! I would NEVER take my car to a mechanic that earned just over minimum wage.

A real garage designed for business or is he working out of a residential garage? The reason I ask is that it would be like comparing apples to oranges. One has a lot of expenses, the other is illegal and can operate for next to nothing as long as you don't care about your neighbors, safety, etc.

A real garage designed for business or is he working out of a residential garage? The reason I ask is that it would be like comparing apples to oranges. One has a lot of expenses, the other is illegal and can operate for next to nothing as long as you don't care about your neighbors, safety, etc.

A real garage designed for business or is he working out of a residential garage? The reason I ask is that it would be like comparing apples to oranges. One has a lot of expenses, the other is illegal and can operate for next to nothing as long as you don't care about your neighbors, safety, etc.

First you don't have a clue of the wages here in Michigan. Come here and find out. My fiance was hired in at Midas at $7.75 an hour. Yes there were incentives if you were able to convince the customer that they needed more work than was necessary. Thats if you didn't have a conscious. He was not certified ASE but had over 25 years experience. He quit his job there because of it and started to work on cars in his own garage. Tire busters in our area don't even get $8.00 an hour. I personally know quite a few mechanics in our area that only make $8.00 an hour so they can put food on the table for their families. There are no jobs in our area. You open the help wanted pages and there maybe a handful of jobs available for the average man. ASE certified mechanics only get $12.00 an hour.

As I said before I know what it takes to run a business. I learned long time ago if you make a little on every deal and do it alot you will make more than if you make a lot on a deal few times a month. And you can still give the same quality service. Customers don't come back if you treat them badly. They only come back if you treat them with respect and honesty. You give them good work at a fair price. That's why my fiance's garage is getting bigger every year. More and more of his customers are bringing new customers over because they get treated fairly at a good price. And don't have to go to a high priced garage.

I know what it takes to fix a car. I have the basic mechanical understanding so if my fiance is not around when something happens to a car I can diagnose the problem by doing a few simple tests. Just like I know how to check to see if it is a bad battery or altenator. Like I said I am a Female my name is Terri not the male version Terry.

Terry,

First of all, Midas is a franchise, and the compensation policies vary by location. I can guarantee you that no ASE certified mechanic in Michigan is working for only $8 an hour. That is total BS. Oil change people make more than that!

I, too have known people in the past and know some currently who work on percentage of the total parts and labor on a job working at Midas. They have plenty of incentive to sell parts and additional services as they DO get paid on the entire ticket.

I live in Florida, the ultimate low wage state and I have NEVER heard of a mechanic making only $8 an hour. The oil change guys and tire installers here at Wal-Mart make $10-12 an hour top scale depending on years of service. These guys are hired at approx $9 an hour with NO EXPERIENCE or ASE certifications.

There is a shortage of qualified mechanics everywhere, and let me say again, that none of them would ever work for only $8 an hour.

I know that the companies need to make money to stay alive. I have been in the car business for over 20 years. My fiance is a former employee of Midas. Midas is a RipOff. The mechanic that work for them make only $8.00 an hour, so the $69.00 an hour you are charged, the mechanic only sees his wages and the company makes $61.00 an hour. They double the price of the parts. And its the mechanic that uses his personal tools and does the work.

I understand the overhead. I am responsable for paying all of my employers bills and I also order parts to fix cars. So I know how much and what it takes to repair a vehicle. What I am saying is that if you are going to own and operate a vehicle it is your responsablity to understand how your car works, and take care of it. My father taught me that when I started to drive a car I had to take care of it. And do some maintance on the car.

I may be a female but I am not afraid of learning how to fix a car and get dirty doing it. I have a mechanic, my fiance. I know not everyone is that fortunate, however it is not that difficult to find a mechanic you trust.

If you go to a place like MIDAS expect to pay through the nose and give up a limb. The mechanics that work there are told to tell the customer that they need more work than what is actually needed. They double the price of the parts and charge you $69.00. The actual mechanic doing the job only see about a quarter of what you paid to get the car fixed. The mechanics have different oil cans to squirt on your car and make it look good and nasty and convince you that it needs repaired. And charge you an outragous price.

Don't anyone remember the Dateline report on this a few years back.

Midas is one of those "bad" company that doesn't work for free and don't sale you the parts at cost. Bad, bad company. Heck, all you had to
do is pull a few bolts. How hard can that that be? They should have paid you to practice on your vehicle.

More advice for "C"..Did you know that ANY auto parts store that sells batteries will test a battery for free? This would have been much easier than going to Sam's, and Sam's does not employ any mechanics. At least many of the auto parts stores hire ex-mechanics and ASE certified people.

Terri,

I guess you are one of those people who expect a mechanic to work for free. Do you have any idea of the real cost of shop overhead and employee cost? ALL shops who stay in business, double the price of a part they have to get for you, and all reputable shops use a labor guide to determine labor cost.

However, the price of parts vary widely among brand names even for an identical part.

This is all standard practice, so there was no gouging here.

It looks like you expect the shops to give you the parts at their cost.

I just went through a similar situation. I have a 94 Olds 88 and the alt. went out while we were driving down the road. Fortunatly my fiance is a mechanic, we stopped by the auto parts store and got a new alt. He had it changed in about 10 minutes once he gathered up a few tools and it was about 10 o'clock at night. I have watched him change a few on the GM 3800 engine. I know I could of changed the alt. if I had to. They are probably the easiest one to change.

However with my car the alt. cost just under $100.00 and that is with a cardealer discount, I work for a local car dealer. My fiance used to work for Midas and left because of the price gouging. They get the list price and purchase the part at wholesale. So they are making money on the part and charging you book price to change the part. Most franchise mechanic shops do that same practice. I have seen it time and time again.

"C",

If it was only a few bolts, you could have done it yourself, right?

An hour labor is not at all out of line for an alternator change, and the diagnosic and charging time.

Keep in mind that installing a new alternator with a bad battery can kill the new alternator. It is suggested by most manufacturers/rebuilders of alternators that your battery be over 12 volts before starting.

Als, they buy the part and go pick it up or have it delivered, then they usually double the price as the mechanics get paid commission of parts and labor. After all, everyone needs to get paid right? Do you work for free?

By the figures above, it indicates about a $90 cost on that alternator.